17.
Short-Term: Public Split On Paying More Would you be willing to pay more– either in higher health insurance premiums or higher taxes– in order to increase the number of Americans who have health insurance, or not? Source: Kaiser Family Foundation / Harvard School of Public Health, The Public’s Health Care Agenda for the New President and Congress, Chartpack, January, 2009 (Don’t Know/Refused responses not included) No Yes 48% 52% 49% 49% 42% 51% 58% 49% 47% 47% 46% 39% 46% 52% 45% 39% 47% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 1991 1996 1998 1999 2000 2003 2004 2007 2008 47%

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<ul><li>THOSE IN FAVOR: </li></ul><ul><li>To make health care more accessible and more affordable 76% </li></ul><ul><li>To build and repair roads, bridges and infrastructure 75 </li></ul><ul><li>To develop new clean-energy technology 74 </li></ul><ul><li>To provide financial support to U.S. industries hurt by the mortgage crisis and problems on Wall Street 36 </li></ul>Support High If Government Paying Would you favor the following spending increases, even if it means raising the federal budget deficit ? Source: Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates, Jan.14-15, 2009, Short-Term: Deficit Spending O.K.

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<ul><li>Historically, the politics of health care have prevented meaningful change </li></ul><ul><li>Today, the piecemeal approach may be the biggest threat </li></ul><ul><li>We must transform the underlying delivery system to impact quality and costs </li></ul><ul><li>Unless costs are controlled, budget hawks will combine forces with national security experts and set future health policy by default </li></ul><ul><li>Blended policy is best approach for successful reform </li></ul><ul><li>Expansions without system reform mean uglier choices ahead, including potential for swift and massive cuts </li></ul>Conclusion Caveat: In a crisis, the unthinkable becomes possible